When I was 9 years old my Dad gave me a 6" Rizutto with a broken spring. I can remember trying to stick a coat hanger wire into it trying to fix it but to no avail. I later took the blade out and stuck it into one of those Taiwan switchblade combs because I wanted it to work so bad but I ended up destroying both of them in the process.
When I was a kid I loved going to flea markets and gun shows looking for switchblades and butterfly knives that I've always liked. Even now as an adult I love them all the more. I like most all knives but have always had a thing for the classy Italian stiletto's. Its been a blast to meet up with other collector's on the internet and also learning the mechanics from makers like Don Hall, Reese Weiland, Jerry Rados, and George Cameron to name a few. I also restored antique stiletto's professionally for antique dealers for several years before becoming a custom knifemaker.
I grew up in a small rural farming community in Ohio (near Cleveland and Youngstown) and have also lived in Florida, Oklahoma, and Illinois. I currently reside in my hometown of Ohio where I am now a full-time knifemaker with a modest machine shop. I grew up in a Christian home but never lived it until I gave my heart to Jesus Christ at the age of 22. I am not ashamed to say that it has transformed my life and that I believe in things like character, honesty, commitment, and integrity.